Prime mover control system



Filed April 1 Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE l escasas PRIMEMOVEB CONTROL SYSTEM Joseph I. Ring, William J. Rheingau, sind Beverly B. Nichols, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignors to Allis-Chalmers' Manufacturing Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware application anni 1, lass, seria/1N. 19amclaims.' (ci. 121-42) 'I'his invention relates in general to improvements in control systems for prime movers and more particularly to control systems wherein a plurality of different prime mover generating -units supply electric current to a common distribution line and particularly to system in which one unit alone is employed to regulate load variations of the distribution line.

In the production of electric energy by a combination of diiferent prime, mover generating units, such as a steam turbine or other fluid driven unit and a hydroelectric unit, it has been found that, if each unit is controlled independently by its own governor to deliver a certain but variable load, danger of "hunting" between the several units and a substantial the overall eiiiciency of the system is Vinvited rather than eliminated. To avoid such danger,

energy translating devices of similar operating 2o characteristics, such as steam turbine generating units, have heretofore been chosen to deliver a predetermined constant load to the distribution line whereas hydroelectric units have been employed to provide the variable load operation necessary to secure the frequency regulation of the entire distribution system. Because both types of energy translating devices operate at their best emciencies at about 85% of their maximum capacities, it is more economical to use one unit only and preferably a hydraulic unit, due to the fact that it operates at maximum eiiiciency over a. wide load range without requiring adjustment of its operating conditions, for maintaining the proper frequency of the distribution line.

inasmuch as the speed governor of the hydroelectric unit is preferably of the type disclosed and claimed in Patent 2,106,684, J. 'J. Ring, B. R.

Nichols and A. Pfau, January 25, 1988. which is highly sensitive and produces comparatively large o iiyball movementsfor small speed changes, the

restoring or compensating mechanism thereof will return the pilot valve controlling the gate operating servomotor to neutral or mid-position before the gate vanes have moved an appreciable 5 amount. The occurrence of an overload on the distribution line therefore requires a considerable number of governor movements and hence a considerable time interval to restore the system frequency to its predetermined value which tixneI lag is normally not permissible. v The governor system as disclosed herein is' therefore arranged for normal functioning of the restoring leverage with its dashpot upon theuoccurrence ofsm'all loadxchangesbutppenjs a bypass valve st tne ss restoring dashpot upon-theoccurrence of pred@ termined overloads which results in a speed and hence a frequency drop. Such bypass valve action results in a momentary elimination of the normal dashpot relaying action and the pilot valve is held open until the gates open to a posi- 5 don which corresponds with the load demand or are fully, open. As soon as the normal speed and frequency of the distribution line is reestablished, the bypass valve of the. restoring leverage dashe pot automatically closes and the restoring lev- 10' etage again functions in the usual manner. A It is therefore an object of this invention to provide Vii. control system for prime mover gen,- erating units supplying electric energy to a distribution'line to which a plurality of units con- 1g.

tribute a constant load and a single unit is responsive only to load variations on the line.

Another object of this invention is to provide a control system for prime mover generator units supplying a distribution line. some of the units zo being adjusted to provide a constant output at their most efficient operating condition and deriving their energy from one source of power and at least one other unit deriving its energy from a different source and alone, within the capacity 25 of the unit, controlling both the normal and excessive load variations within a minimum time interval. v

Another object of the invention is to provide means :or eliminating the action or a conti-o1 so system restoring leverage to permit an uninterrupted movement of a driving fluid control means for one of a plurality of prime mover generating units suplying a distribution line, upon the occurrence of overlosds on the line. l

biects and advantages other than those above set forth will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanyins drawing, in which: s Fig. l is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment of the inventionA shown as applied Ito a hydraulic turbine operating an electric generator and in which the various portions of the control system .are sliownin a diagrammatic form to facilitate understanding thereof; Pig. 2 represents a vertical cross section taken on the line II-lI o! Fig. 3 to illustrate the construction and connection of the dashpot in the restoring leverage of the system; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section taken on the so line III-tm of Fig. 2 to show the construction and relation of a bypass valve for the dashpot of the control system restoring leverage.

Although several steanilrbine driven sen- I craters and hydroelectric ts supply electric ss current to the distribution line. it will be understood that only one hydroelectric unit is intended to be employed for regulating load variations in the line. The illustration therefore includes only I the single unit employed for such regulation and the control apparatus which may be necessary to accomplish the desired results. A

Referring more specically to the drawing by characters of reference, the improved governor '1 control system is herein shown as applied to prime movers such as the hydraulic turbine I of the propeller type driving an alternating current generator II connected through a circuit breaker u I2 with a distribution line I3. The turbine is shown herein as being set in an open nume from which the flow of uid pressurevto the turbine is controlled by an annular series of movable gate and guide vanes I4 adapted to be moved into different positions by a shifting ring I8. The shifting ring is actuated by a suitable linkage mechanism connection with a vertical shaft I1 which is rotated by a fluid pressure operated servomotor I8. Fluid under pressure is supplied to the opy 25 posite sides of the servomotor piston i8 from a suitable source (not shown) by way of a supply pipe 28 under the control of a pilot valve 22 and through pipes 23 or 24. The pilot valve 22 also controls discharge of iluld pressure from the servomotor by way of pipes 23 and 24 and a discharge pipe 2|, The stem ofthe pilot valve 22 is-connected with one end of a lever 21, the other end of which is connected with the piston 28 of a dashpot generally indicated-at 29. The dashpot piston 28 is alsp-movably connected by a link 3| with a spindle 32, the movable connection having been described in detail in the above identified patent. The spindle 32 is connected by an arm, a rod 33 and a second arm 34 with the piston rod 4 I9 of the servomotor I8. All of the above mechanism mechanically connecting the pilot valve 22 and the servomotor piston I8 compensates the action of the pilot valve by restoring suchvalve to its neutral or midposition upon movement of the servomotor to actuate the turbine gate and such mechanism is accordingly herein collectively termed the restoring leverage. The lever 21 is pivotally connected intermediate its end with a lever 38 having one of its ends pivotally movable about a xed point 31. The other end of lever 36 is pivotally connected with a rod 38 which is in turn pivotally connected adjacent one end of a lever 39 having the other end thereof movably connected with a screw 4I which may be rotated manually by means of wheel 42 or which may be operated by a motor drive 43 which may, of course, be remotely controlled. The screw 4I and its operating means together 0 form means for starting oradjusting the entire control system and are well known as a so-called synchronizer."

The lever 39 is connected intermediate its ends with a speed governor which comprises a servo- 65 motor 48 connected intermediate the ends of lever 39. The servomotor l48 is controlled by a substantially balanced valve arranged therein and operated by the movement of a centrifugal tlyball friction in such yball set wherever possible. The ilyballs are driven by an electric motor 48 con; nected with the generator I I and therefore responsive to any load variations thereon. The en- 5 tire above governor mechanism is described in deset 41. The fiyballs are of relatively small size 70 and are mounted entirely on springs toV avoid aas-asas tail in the above identined patent and such description is accordingly not repeated herein.

The dashpot 28 is provided with a needle valve 5I (see Fig. 3) by which the rate of flow of fluid between the chambers on opposite sides of the 5 dashpot piston 28 can be controlled for normal speed operation of the dashpot. Delayed movement of the dashpot piston '28 is permitted 'by ball valves 82 and 83 which may open dependent on the direction of flow of fluid required. justment of the needle valve 8l is suillcient to secure proper control of the system so long as the load changes thereon are relatively small. When large load changes occur, the above mentioned needle and ball valves controlling the 'passages 15 are unable to pass a sumcient quantity of oil to allow for correction of the load change before the restoring leverage returns the pilot valve to the neutralposition thereof. The governor system abovedescribed would therefore have to opcrate repeatedly and would correct a large load change only by a large number of small increments which would require too great an interval of time to be permissibleunder present conditions. l

The present invention therefore provides for a bypassvalve for the dashpot 28 which -valve is capable of bypassing control fluid in such quantities that the dashpot action is momentarily eliminated or reduced to'a minimum which re- 39 suits in a long continuous movement of the servomotor piston I8 and the gate I4 operated thereby. As'soon as the normal line conditions are attained, the dashpot bypass closes. The bypass valve may be made integral with the body portion of the .dashpot 28 or may be attached thereto as shown herein and comprises a casing 84 containing a piston 88 normally held in closed position by a spring 81 and with a check valve 88 formed integral with the piston. It is to be noted that (D the bypass is so proportioned that the control duid passes readily from the compression chamber of the dashpot to the relief chamber thereof through a ball check valve 88 provided the check Avalve 88 is in the open position. The portion of the bypass casing 84 below the piston 88 is connected by a tube 8| with a valve 82 operable by a solenoid^83. The valve 82 is normally biased to closed position and is "opened only when the gencritterv l l. is connected with thc distribution une 5.0 to energize Athe solenoid. 'Ihe solenoid valve 82 is connected by a tube 84 with a valve 88 which is connected with the pressure supply pipe 28. The stem of the valve 88 is guided by an upward extension 81 from the casing thereof andis pro- 55 videdwith nuts enga ng with such extension to form means for limit g the stroke of the valve. The valve 88 is operated by afric'tion slip connection 88 engaging the stem thereof and is connected by a spring es with the extension s1 which 00 spring aids in retaining the valve normally in the t open position. The slip connection 88 extends into the path of movement of governor lever 39 and is engaged thereby pon movement of such i lever beyond its normal range due to the occur- 05 rence of a large load variation.

Assuming that the entire generating system is composed of units operated by fluids having different characteristics, such as steam turbine driven generator units and a hydroelectric unit, to which combination the.present invention is particularly applicable, it will be difficult to provide a constant Adistribution line frequency if the governor of each. unit shares in the regulation for 'maintaining the line frequency. Such arrange- 14 asa-goss ment would produce hlmting between the various units and would lower the overall elciency of the system. 'I'he steam turbine drivenl generators are therefore operated at governor settings which produce a constant output at their best eiciency,

whereas the hydroelectric unit with its supersensitive governor assumes the regulation for maine taining the frequency of the entire distribution' line at a predetermined value. The entire sequence of control system 'opera-- tions will be more readily understood if the operation of the system is considered from the starting point, that is starting fromstandstill rather than from the running position in which it is shown in the drawing. The generator II is at that time disconnected from the main line I3 and the circuit breaker I2 must be closed by closure of hand switch 1 I to energize the closing mechanism for the circuit breaker I2 from an auxiliary or .power house circuit 12. The valve 62 will be in the closed position preventing control iluid from opening the valve 58 of the bypass valve 54-59 due to deenergization of the solenoid 63 as long as the switch 1 I is open. The bypass valve 54-59 r is inoperative during starting and the relay dashpot 29 therefore functions normally.

The prime mover is started by rotation of the synchronizer spindle 4I either-manually or by the electric motor drive I3 to raise the end of the 30 lever 39 which in turn causes the left hand end of the lever 3S to move in a downward direction,

thus depressing the oating lever 21 and opening a the pilot valve 22 for the passage of fluid pressure e to the left hand side of the servomotor piston I9 which forces the turbine gate Il to open. It will be understood that, under normal conditions of starting, the finger end of the lever 39 engages the friction slip connection 68, but the valve 762 will be closed and therefore iuid pressure acting 40 through the pipe 64 will be stopped by the closed valve '62. Assuming now that the unit is in synchronism with other units supplying the distribution line, the switch 1I is closed, thus closing the circuit breaker I2 and energizing the circuit of the solenoid 63 to open the valve 52. '111e unit is now in full operation and is controlled/solely by the ilyball governor 46-48. The governor IB- being of a type producing relatively large yball movements for small speed 0 changes, and because the piston of the pilot valve 22 follows the gate movement almost instantly, it will be obvious that frequency changes of greater than normal magnitude could not be corrected by the governor within a reasonable period of time unless the action of the dashpot 2s 1s temporarily reduced to a minimum to permit the servomotor piston I9 and the gate Il to move continuously for a predetermined length of time.

The dashpot 29 has therefore been provided with the bypassvalve .54*59 actuated, upon the occurrence of a frequency drop3 of greater than normal magnitude, by the 'movement of the lever 39 in a downward direction beyond its predeter-v mined normal limits until it depresses the friction slip cononection 68 and opens the valve 96. Fluid pressure is then permitted to flow through the pipe 64, the solenoid valve 92 and the tube 9| and lifts the check valves 58 and 59 into the open position. The dashpot fluid under compression is l0 allowed to pass freely yfrom the compression chamber to the upper or relief chamber and the delaying action of the dashpot is eliminated until the governor motor 48 responds to the resultant risein'frequency in the line I3. The higher speed of the governor 46--48 then raises the lever 39 and the upwardly -biased slip connection 38 is released, thus causing the valves 96, I9 and 59 to v close in succession to reestablish normal operation of the dashpot 29.

'From the above description it will be readily 5 apparent that a prime mover operatedby fluid, in the present instance by water under pressure, is controlled by a gate controlling the flow of such fluid. The gate itself isoperated by means including a servomotor shown as being fluid pressure operated and which servomotor iscontrolled by means shown as being a valve designated as a pilot valve. Means responsive to the speed of the prime mover are provided to control the gate operating means, that is the servomotor and the 15 pilot valve, and such speed responsive means are indicated as being an electric motor driven-fiyball set acting on the pilot valve through a suitable governor servomotor and a` suitable leverage. Means are provided for compensating the gate 20 servomotor movement and comprisea suitable -leverage containing a time delay dashpot by which leverage the pilot valve and hence the gate servomotorare restored to neutral or midposition. And finally, means are provided for neutralizing 25 the restoring effect -of the leverage on the pilot valve and the gate servomotor, which means provide a pressure operated valve freely passing fluid from one chamber of the dashpot to the other chamber thereof upon the operation Yof such valve by fluid pressure jointly controlled by a' solenoid valve and a governor operated valve, the .solenoid valve being immediately opened upon energization of the prime mover and the governor operated valve acting only when the 'prime mover 35 speed drops below predetermined limits. The friction slip connection between the governor and the valve operated thereby is necessary to allow biasing of such valve to return it toits Yclosing position, thus again placing the entire system in condition for the control of further loads beyond the range of loads normally controlled by the governing system.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to Vthose skilled in the art that A' various changes and modications may be made therein vwithout departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims. V-

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent: Y l

1. In a system for governing a machine operablev atv variable speeds, means for4 controlling. the flow of operating fluid to the machine, meansv responsivel to the speed oi' the machine f or controlling said fluid ilow control means, a leverage and a dashpot connecting said vilow .control means with said speed responsive means for restoring the same to the neutral position after operation thereof, a fluid pressure operated valve storing the same to the neutral position after op- 'I6 eration thereof, a fluid pressure operated valve for bypassing iiuid around the piston of said dashpot for neutralizing the effect thereof, a valve actuated 'upon starting the machine, and

a valve operated by said speed responsive means upon occurrence of predetermined 'speed decrease, both said machine actuated valve and said speed responsive actuated valve cooperating to control operation of said bypass valve.

3. In a systemv for governing a machine operable at variable speeds, means for controlling the flow of operating fluid to the machine, means responsive to the speed of the machine for controlling said iluid flow control means, a leverage and a dashpot connecting said flow control means with said speed responsive means for restoring the 'same to the neutral position after operation thereof, a iluid pressure operated valve for bypassing iiuid around the piston of said dashpot for neutralizing the effect thereof, a plurality of valves operated dependent on dierent operating conditions of the machine for controlling operation of said'iluid pressure operated valve, and means yieldingly connecting one of said plurality of valves with said speed responsive means for operation thereby in one direction.

4. In a system for governing a machine operable at variable speeds, means for controlling the flow of operating iluid to the machine, means responsive to the speed of the machine for controlling said fluid flow control means, a leverage and a ,dashpot connecting said flow control means with said speed responsive means for restoring the same to the neutral position after operation thereof, a fluid pressure operated valve for bypassing fluid around the piston of said dashpot for neutralizing the effect thereof, a plurality of valves operated severally dependent on different operating conditions of the machine, all of said plurality of valves cooperating to control operatlon of said bypass valve, a friction slip connection for securing operation oi' one of said plurality of valves by said speed responsive means, and means for returning said speed actuated valve to the neutral position after release by said speed responsive means.

5. .In a system for governing a machine operable at variable speeds, means for controlling theilow of operating fluid to the machine, means responsive to the speed of the machine for controlling said fluid flow control means, a leverage and a dashpot connecting said ow control means with said speed responsive means for restoring the same to the neutral position after operation thereof, a iluid'pressure operated valve for bypassing fluid around the piston of said dashpot for neutralizing the effect thereof, a plurality of valves operated severally dependent on diiferent operating conditions of the machine', al1 of said plurality of valves cooperating to control operation of said bypass valve, a friction slip connection for securing operation of one of said plurality of valves by said speed responsive means, and a spring connecting the stem of said speed actuated valve with the casing thereof to close said valve after release by said speed responsive 

